Master Minded answers questions in style

Master Minded is as short as 6-4 favourite to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase for a third time after an imperious performance in the Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase at Cheltenham.

Saved over from Sandown's frozen off meeting last weekend, the Grade One event signalled the return to the top of the two-mile tree for Paul Nicholls' seven-year-old.

Questions had been asked over whether Clive Smith's dual champion chaser could return as good as ever after a breathing operation and a fractured rib. Even Nicholls himself admitted there was still a question mark over whether the 10-11 favourite could put back-to-back top performances together after his comeback win at Ascot.

But ridden with supreme confidence by the returning Noel Fehily, there was never an anxious moment, even with I'm So Lucky and Petit robin setting a searching gallop up front.

Fehily made his move coming down the hill and came to challenge Petit Robin on the run to two out, which he flew.

From then on the result was a formality and another perfect leap at the last sealed a sixth Grade One win. Petit Robin clung on for third from a fast-finishing Somersby.

"He had a breathing operation in the summer as I was convinced that is what was stopping him. It has made a big difference to him," said Nicholls. "I was really nervous beforehand, but it's great to have him back. After the season he had, I have to say that at Ascot I was doubting him, but he came on after that, and he's just bloomed.

"He has got his confidence again and that's what I wanted to see. I'm really pleased for Noel too."

Nicholls went on: "Now he has come back and won twice like that, I'm a lot more confident ahead of the Champion Chase.

"What he will do now is have a little break and then go for the Victor Chandler at Ascot at the end of January.

"After that he'll go straight to the Champion Chase, he won't run anywhere else.

"It was a fantastic ride from Noel, he saw they had gone too fast but he was patient and knew what he was doing.

"I'm really pleased with that and it's great for all the team at home."

Poquelin defied the history books to become the only horse to land the Vote AP Gold Cup at Cheltenham twice following his win last year.

The winner, returned at 16-1, was last season partnered by Ruby Walsh, but this time Ian Popham looked an immense potential talent and well worth his 5lb claim, taking up the running two hurdles out and holding on by a length from Great Endeavour.